Author: rediSoft

As the curtain comes down on the HostsCK project due to a new direction in my life, version 2.2.8.0
is marked as final. No more features will be added and bugs will not be fixed.
This website will remain for 2019 and almost certainly 2020.

The Microsoft Extra list will be updated when needed by John – a long time user of HostsCK.

Please note that this release has had minimal testing. For that reason you can find a
link in the Help file to download version 2.2.7 under the topic “Version 2.2.8 Final”.

Fixed: Internet Explorer loading when HostsDE checked for a Hosts update
while a VPN client was connecting or had disabled an internet connection.

Fixed: HostsCK crash when launching the Hosts update server in the
default browser.

Added: Autosave setting. Open or drag and drop a Hosts file into HostsCK
and it will be automatically saved. HostsDE, if set to check for mvps Hosts
updates, will download and save the Hosts update when an update becomes
available. Autosave is disabled by default. Go to ” Settings > Backup & Saving ”
to toggle autosave.

Added: shortcut key for full view (F11).

Changed: Changed internet connection ping from 4.2.2.2 to 8.8.8.8 as
several users reported problems with HostsCK and HostsDE detecting
an internet connection.

Improved: Colour schemes re-written. Each scheme is named and the
scheme colours are extended to other areas of HostsCK in some cases.

Improved: Graphical changes to the built-in web browser.

Following is a list of changes made due to the fact that HostsCK has been marked as final.

Removed: HostsCK performance information as it was only used for testing purposes.

Removed: Email with bugs and suggestions email client.

Removed: Check for program updates.

Removed: Error logging.

The help file, ListCK and KnockKnock are now included in the install and in this update.

Added: Setting in Settings > Input to automatically add 0.0.0.0 and block an address when
pasting a web address into the text box. E.G. “https://redisoft.uk/privacy-policy/” is
pasted as “0.0.0.0 redisoft.uk”.

Added: Setting in Settings > Misc to warn that Hosts is disabled when HostsCK exits.

Added: HostsCK checks that the Hosts file can be edited and is not locked by
another program when it starts. See Help.

Added: “View List” Link to view the Microsoft extra blocks list in your text editor.
Link is on the “You have the latest version” message box when checking for an
update to the extra blocks.

Fixed: Fixed the English language file getting corrupted during install or
update in certain cases.

Fixed: Fixed a memory leak in HostsDE.

Improved: Only the domain name of a web address gets pasted into the
text box. E.G. “https://redisoft.uk/privacy-policy/” becomes “redisoft.uk”
when using the Paste menu item to paste a web address into the text box.
Ctrl+V overrides this behaviour so the full address gets pasted.

Changed: Check Hosts is disabled when restoring a Hosts backup until that
backup has been saved.

Fixed/Workaround: Windows update KB4481480 (Security and Quality Rollup for .NET Framework)
has broken HostsCK visual styling.
This is an untested fix that should hopefully enable visual styling. The problem should
be properly addressed in the next update.

Fixed: HostsCK could become unresponsive when checking for program updates.

Fixed: Spelling mistake in message box.

Changed: Stronger encryption is used when sending an email using
“Email with bugs or suggestions”. Also, due to a server-side change,
the HostsCK email client has been updated.The email client will no longer work on earlier versions of HostsCK.

Improved: HostsCK detects user input in the main textbox much
better and will enable the save button and display an asterisk to show
that changes may need to be saved.

Improved: Several minor improvements to search functions, GetIP,
the built in web browser and the Bugs and Suggestions email client.

Updated: The HostsCK uninstaller now enables the DNS
Client Service without asking and deletes the registry key
HostsDE creates if it is set to run when Windows starts.

Updated: The HostsCK Install program has been updated to
conform to Microsoft guidelines. This means that links to the
Uninstall HostsCK shortcut and the HostsCK license are no longer
in the HostsCK Start Menu folder. A link to the uninstaller is now in
the HostsCK program files directory and can still be easily uninstalled
from the Windows control panel.

Removed: HostsCK can no longer be sent to the system tray
to protect the Hosts file as this is now handled by HostsDE.

Fixed: The reading icon was being shown on the ‘Addresses blocked’
status label when changing between showing own icons or not in settings.

Improved: The Startup code has been re-organized so HostsCK starts more
smoothly and, if using the English language file, starts slightly quicker.

Added: When highlighting text in the main textbox, ‘Copy’ and ‘Cut’ menu items
will be displayed enabling you to quickly copy or cut the selected text.
This can be disabled in Settings > Input > Show copy menu.

Removed ‘Check for updated Hosts’ setting as it has been replaced with HostsDE
checking for Hosts updates.